(Chelsea Update would like to thank Joe Yekulis for the information in this story and Kelly Flaherty for the photos in the slideshow.)
The Italian Club of Livonia is made up of Italian-American descendants who live in the western suburbs of Metropolitan Detroit, many of whom are Roman Catholic.
They have a special affinity for helping Italian-American causes, and that love extends to St. Louis Center, a residential care facility for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It was established by the Italian Order of the Servants of Charity in 1960.
For the past 22 years, the IACL has raised funds for SLC through a dinner-dance fundraiser in late January called the “Guardian Angel Dinner-Dance,” benefitting the transportation needs of the center.
On Jan. 29, almost 200 people visited the IACL to enjoy an Italian style dinner, live music, a silent auction, a gift raffle and raffle for a “mini-bar.”
Event Chairwoman and former club president, Mary Galasso, received the St. Louis Guanella Humanitarian Award from the Servants of Charity for her leadership in making this event a success.
Galasso was humbled by her award and said, “It’s a very special honor, but I haven’t done what others have done. All I do is help them so they can realize their plans for the future. All God wants from any of us is to give him our yes.”
Following the award ceremony, Maria Harris of the Italian American Club of Livonia Charitable Foundation presented Fr. Enzo Addari, SdC., with two checks for $7,000 to assist SLC with their Legacy Building Campaign.
Kenneth Unterbrink, state deputy of the Michigan Knights of Columbus, presented Fr. Enzo with a check from the Michigan State Council in the amount of $25,000 for their 2017 commitment to the Legacy Campaign and the building of the new St. Louis Guanella Village.
For more information about St. Louis Center, please visit www.stlouiscenter.org.
